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1973 – A furious GM Spec Richardson posts a message on the Astrodome scoreboard blaming recent Houston losses on umpires Bruce Froemming and Augie Donatelli. Froemming had negated a key inning-ending double play during a 4-1 defeat to Atlanta, ruling the Astros missed second base. Donatelli’s gaffe, two days earlier, was to rule a Bobby Tolan home run fair after it had landed foul. The league fines Richardson $300.

ByTom

1973 – A furious GM Spec Richardson posts a message on the Astrodome scoreboard blaming recent Houston losses on umpires Bruce Froemming and Augie Donatelli. Froemming had negated a key inning-ending double play during a 4-1 defeat to Atlanta, ruling the Astros missed second base. Donatelli’s gaffe, two days earlier, was to rule a Bobby Tolan home run fair after it had landed foul. The league fines Richardson $300.

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Manager Leo Durocher returns from a three-week hospital stay to watch Don Wilson toss a three-hitter over Cincinnati, 5-1

ByTom

1973 – Manager Leo Durocher returns from a three-week hospital stay to watch Don Wilson toss a three-hitter over Cincinnati, 5-1. Lee May’s two-run shot gets the scoring started. Interim manager Preston Gomez was 14-3 in Durocher’s absence, perhaps leading Leo to a quicker recovery. 

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1973 – Houston scores four in the 14th to topple the Mets, 9-5. Doug Rader’s two-run double is the big blow in the inning. Cesar Cedeno has four hits, including a home run. Jim Ray is the winning pitcher. 

ByTom

1973 – Houston scores four in the 14th to topple the Mets, 9-5. Doug Rader’s two-run double is the big blow in the inning. Cesar Cedeno has four hits, including a home run. Jim Ray is the winning pitcher. 

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1973 – Montreal’s Mike Marshall walks home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth before Tom Walker balks home Cesar Cedeno for a 4-3 Astros win. Bob Watson’s two solo homers plated the other two Houston runs. 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1973 – Montreal’s Mike Marshall walks home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth before Tom Walker balks home Cesar Cedeno for a 4-3 Astros win. Bob Watson’s two solo homers plated the other two Houston runs. 

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Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.

ByTom

1973 – Cesar Cedeno doubles home Tommy Helms with the winning run in the 13th for a 2-1 Opening Day triumph in Atlanta. It was Cedeno’s third extra-base hit of the game. Jim Wynn’s homer tied it in the sixth.

george steinbrenner
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New York Yankees are sold by the Columbia Broadcasting System to a group of 17 investors, headed up by shipbuilding magnate George Steinbrenner

ByThis Day in Baseball

On January 3, 1973, the New York Yankees are sold by the Columbia Broadcasting System to a group of 17 investors, “There is nothing in life quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner.” – Yankees minority owner John McMullen Heading a limited partnership that includes Lester Crown, John DeLorean, and Nelson Bunker…

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A pair of infielders, Ray Busse and Bob Fenwick are shipped to St. Louis for catcher Skip Jutze and infielder Milt Ramirez

ByTom

1972 – A pair of infielders, Ray Busse and Bob Fenwick are shipped to St. Louis for catcher Skip Jutze and infielder Milt Ramirez. Both Busse and Fenwick hit under .200 during spot duties with Houston. 

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1972 – Pitcher Buddy Harris and outfielder Rich Chiles are traded to the Mets for outfielder Tommie Agee. While Chiles and Harris accomplish little in New York, Agee bats .235 in 83 games before getting dealt in mid-season. 

ByTom

1972 – Pitcher Buddy Harris and outfielder Rich Chiles are traded to the Mets for outfielder Tommie Agee. While Chiles and Harris accomplish little in New York, Agee bats .235 in 83 games before getting dealt in mid-season. 

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Cesar Cedeno and Lee May are the first Astros to crack the top ten in N.L. Most Valuable Player voting.

ByTom

1972 – Cesar Cedeno and Lee May are the first Astros to crack the top ten in N.L. Most Valuable Player voting. Cedeno finishes sixth and May finishes ninth. Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench takes the prize. 

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Don Wilson scatters four hits while Lee May gets just as many by himself. Houston tops the first-place Reds, 7-1.

ByTom

1972 – Don Wilson scatters four hits while Lee May gets just as many by himself. Houston tops the first-place Reds, 7-1. The Astros still stand in second place, 8-1/2 games behind Cincinnati, but can celebrate the first winning season in franchise history.